After the initial bombshell that Disney had purchased LucasFilm, and subsequently the Star Wars license, movie fans began to speculate about what we might see in the newly announced return to that galaxy far, far away. Conflicting reports indicated that Disney would either use Star Wars episodes 7-9 to continue the established saga, fleshing out unused treatments (originally penned by George Lucas), and bring back fan-favorite characters like Luke and Leia – or relaunch the franchise with an entirely original storyline (likely set after the events of the original films but without many returning characters).

Considering that the proposed Episode 7 release date is still three years away, it may be awhile before we have any concrete answers but that hasn’t stopped commenters and industry insiders from weighing in on the direction they’d like to see the series take.

Screen Rant editor (and SR Underground Podcast host), Ben Kendrick, had a chance to sit down with fellow entertainment writer Eric Eisenberg (Cinemablend) in a video panel hosted by AMC Theaters’ John Campea to talk about our where we think the series will go – as well as whether or not we might see the return of some familiar franchise faces.

You can check out the video discussion at the top of the page.

At this point, moviegoers seem to be cautiously optimistic about the Disney/LucasFilm deal. However, when discussion shifts to where exactly the Mouse House should take the franchise, there isn’t a clear consensus. While plenty of fans would love to see fan-favorite characters return, it’s much more likely that Disney is going to draw a fine line in the sand – if for no other reason that to protect their investment. While characters like R2-D2 and C-3PO could provide a smart bridge between the original and upcoming installments, it’s hard to imagine that, given the backlash around the prequel trilogy, Disney will want to risk further tarnishing the brand by continuing the stories of principle characters.

As the news of an “original story” would indicate, Disney will instead enjoy profiting off of previously established characters like Han Solo and Luke Skywalker at retail – while at the same time forging ahead in a new direction with fresh characters. Remember, as Transformers 4 teaches us – new characters mean higher merchandise sales.

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Will 2 years ago

I want to see the trilogy continue after the events of Star wars VI with Luke, Leia, Han Solo, R2 D2, and C3PO all returning as their characters following the events of episode 6

I think I’ve got a hold on this whole alleged nine-episode plan for ‘Star Wars’; when George Lucas said around 1980/1 that he had outlines for a sequel trilogy plotted out, then said from the ‘special editions’ on that he never had any storylines written for a sequel trilogy, he might be telling the truth, and here’s why… the ideas that George Lucas originally had for Episodes VII-IX still had the Empire and the Emperor reigning, the Rebel Alliance was still fighting, Leia was not Luke’s sister, and Darth Vader was still alive, but this plan was scrapped when he decided to end the saga with Episode VI, rendering the previous sequels outline null and void.

When Lucas said he never had scripts for storylines set AFTER the events in ‘Return of the Jedi’, he is likely telling the truth, the story outline treatments for the upcoming new trilogy have been developed from ideas left over from earlier treatments and outline ideas, and Lucas probably didn’t start developing this new trilogy storyline until about 2008 or 2009 – that’s when the rumors began circulating – and it’s also probably around the time Lucas starting seriously thinking about retiring and selling off Lucasfilm…

Whilst I think the prequels were unnecessary – although had they been handled correctly, they could still have been extraordinary – I nonetheless have reservations about this new trilogy and whether it has a compelling and substantive enough story to justify it’s existence, although if they hire top talent like Alfonso Cuaron, Guillermo del Toro, or Neil Blomkamp to direct the new episodes, it would certainly go a very long way to expel any serious doubts, this next two-and-a-half years is going to be mighty interesting…

The star wars franchise ended with balance being restored in the force, namely, an equal amount of light and dark side practitioners. The next episodes could incorporate this theme with the rise of both sith and jedi academies (episode 7). To achieve true balance, however, force practitioners must learn to master both the light and the dark side, hence the rise of the grey jedi (episode 8) who will ultimately have to face off against both the sith and the jedi (episode 9) in an attempt to recruit them, and thus prevent any future calamity from recurring, to do a gross imbalance in the force. The overall theme could be “the end justifies the means”. A little dark maybe, but in keeping with Disney’s “feel good” stories, I suppose anyone who doesn’t voluntarily submit to the grey Jedi (and the overall good of the universe) and is therefore executed, will then be greatly mourned by the grey jedi order (similar to Obi Wan’s pleading with Anakin before he defeated him, and then subsequently mourning his passing, or so he thought).

I wonder whether they will take an approach similiar to the Jedi Knight games. It would allow them introduce a new era of jedi, be they dark or light side, and keep old players like Luke and Leia in the picture. Plus, I’d love to see Kyle Katarn imagined in a film. I know they said that the stories would be original but I think this could be a good way to go.

I don’t believe these “interviews” with these film dweebs could be less informative or less interesting if they tried. 90% of it consists of “uh”, “wow” and “I was doing this when the story broke.” Completely useless, people.

That was Lucas’ very earliest plan for the saga, according to Gary Kurtz; Episode I was originally to be a prelude outlining the history of the Jedi and the galactic conflagration that ultimately led to the formation of the Republic, but Lucas changed that plan over time, and Episode I ended up the way it did… a film about disputes over space taxes (and we wonder why it was so bad)!

Episode I should have been about the Republic proposing to ban cloned slave labor, with the Outer Rim systems using that cloning technology rebelling, and that is what the Clone Wars should have been about… with the separatists using clone troopers and the Republic using a volunteer army of storm troopers.

I still feel this new trilogy is more of a business decision on the part of George Lucas than a creative one (an incentive for Disney to purchase Lucasfilm), but I’m more than willing to give them leeway until I see what kind of story arc will be used, but it better be something REALLY special…

I would like to see Star Wars go the way of Marvel. I want a Star Wars movie every year around different story lines. They should push side stories to complement the main story line of 7, 8 and 9. 7, 8, and 9 being around Luke and his new jedi academy. HOWEVER, Luke would not necessarily need to be the main character.

Death Troopers would be awesome too. Spice up the galaxy with zombies.

@T.Eisey
Oh I love Death Troopers and I would also love to see it in live action someday IMHO zombies is becoming a little overused but I could be wrong there is obviously still a market for zombies out there with show like The Walking Dead and all

@Awesome Guy
I wouldn’t mind seeing The Force Unleashed but I really wasn’t a big fan on how the second one just kind of ended I think it needs better ending IMHO

Honestly I don’t want them to go away from the original storyline only because it would flop big time. Everyone is used to seeing the original characters that were shown in the previous movies. If they wanted to use stories after Return of the Jedi their best bet would be to use the Thrawn trilogy only because that would make more sense and introduce new characters that way. But that’s just me

I think if old characters would be included that following the new jedi order’s extra galactic invasion by the yuzhan vong would be ideal. Pretty great story line. lots of room for new characters.
No matter what couldn’t be happier at the resurrection of the star wars feature film world.

Episode 7 implies continuity with episodes 1-6. Therefore the prophesy concerning Anakin being the chosen one would have to somehow carry into the upcoming episodes, i.e. through his progeny. If you think the whole Skywalker angle is overdone, then how about scrapping the “episodes 7-9″ idea, by starting a whole new saga with a new story arc and new characters.

There should be a movie about the transition from Empire to Republic, and that should be the focus of episodes 7, 8, & 9. Fight off Sidious’ legacy, and the inevitable founding of The New Jedi Order. Luke should still have a role, albeit a Mace Windu or Yoda role. Han and Leia’s purpose for the plot is to have their children succeed Luke in the transition.

Then have the Jedi fight off Vader’s apprentices that have been under the radar from the Emperor.

Also, no more part for characters like Yoda and Obi- wan, if anyone should return as a force ghost, it should be Anakin, since he has his dark days to deal with.

There seems to be a lot of talk of Luke and Leia’s children. The expanded universe has no play in these movies. Whose to say they have any children. If luke goes by the old code of the Jedi, he would be against it.

Anyway, if you follow the story line of “always two there are, no more, no less”, then you have to assume the Sith are extinct. I can’t think of a story that would go along with a mysterious Sith appearing out of nowhere. Maybe you could go with the idea of some of the members of the Jedi order not seeing eye to eye with the teachings of Luke, they want to embrace the Dark side as well as the light side of the Force. It causes a sort of war between the Jedi. By the end of Episode 7, the rogue Jedi are becoming more powerful and have become a threat to the Jedi Order and the New Republic. One of these Rogue jedi could be a Skywalker offspring, I’m not against it, it just should not be assumed they have kids. Episode 8 could show the republic and order struggling to keep it together, could even have Luke slain by the leader of the rogue jedi/sith, either by a family member or once close trusted student. Episode 9 would be the usual with the bad guys falling and the good guys coming out on top, not agaisnt that, that’s just what happens all the time, just has to be done right.

Woudn’t it be cool to see yoda, Qui Gon, Obi Wan, Anakin (old Anakin) and Luke all as Jedi ghosts, giving advice to the hero Jedi right before he goes into the final battle in episode 9.

Luke doesn’t necessarily need to have children, but Han and Leia do, What was the point of 3 episodes of Unresolved sexual tension if it doesn’t end up like that? Would it be a good story if Leia became celibate like Luke? Or they pull a Yamcha -Bulma on us?

And the empire ruled for like 20 years. I’m pretty sure there have been other Sith potentials gathered during at that time (I.e.The Force Unleashed, which is considered canon since Lucas was directly involved in the story development of it.)

Remember the TV series The Clone Wars,it shown us there there are other Sith acolytes or potentials like Asajj Ventress and Savage Opress, Or General Grievous. Palpatine was very cunning and traditional for a Sith, but he was also radical in some ways.

If any force ghosts needs to make a major return, it should be Anakin, he needs to guide Luke on what he has done as Vader to right his wrongs. Yoda and Obi- wan may have a cameo, but only as a farewell to Luke.

I think they should go back and do the Mandalorian Wars with Yoda as either a young jedi or an apprentice. Everyone loves Yoda and the Mandalorians are awesome. There are a lot of possibilities for that trilogy.

They have enough material on Revan to make a whole new saga (6+ films). His origins; becoming a jedi; turning to the dark side to turn the tide in the Mandalorian wars; his apprentice overthrowing him; the jedi wiping his mind to give him another chance; his discovery of a sith empire led by the Emperor; his forced conversion as one of the Emperors followers; his attempt to overcome the Emperor’s control; the Emperor casting his body into the Nebula star cluster, but trapping his soul; his soul eventually overtaking the Emperor’s soul; the “Emperor” forging a peace treaty with the jedi. They can call it “knights of the old republic” saga, or just “the old republic saga”, or “the chronicles of Revan”, or whatever. There’s way more juicy material here than in the original star wars series.

Original story does not equal original characters. That whole “original story” comment keeps getting taken out of context. There are a number of stories in the expanded universe for the post-Return of the Jedi time period. They are saying it will be an “original” story in that it won’t be copying any of those expanded universe story. That doesn’t mean they are necessarily using entirely brand-new characters…and why would they pay $4 billion to just make a bunch of movies with new, random characters and call it “Star Wars”.

They need to be careful not to trample over the EU. The novels continue 45 years ABY (after battle of Yavin, which was the epic battle at the end of a New Hope.) There are some very epic plot points that occur throughout these novels that are considered cannon. I won’t bring them up here for the sake of spoilers.
What they need to do is find a director who knows the cannon and fan base, e.g. Kevin Smith or Joss Whedon. The need to avoid the disasters that Episodes 1-3 faced and attempt to re-capture the charm that the original trilogy had that captured the world and made the series what it is.